Leveraging IT Outsourcing Partnerships

7/14/09 - David Tominsky

Stop thinking about outsourcing to suppliers and vendors and start thinking about identifying partnerships that can be leveraged by your organization to achieve business objectives.

So much has been written about the benefits of outsourcing that BPOs may seem surprised that not everyone is taking advantage of the opportunity. Article after article will tell you that you can reduce costs and remain focused on your core competency areas while taking advantage of bringing expertise to the table for your business at break-neck speeds. Simply search for benefits of outsourcing IT and the myriad reasons to outsource parts of your business become overwhelming.

I contend that some businesses don't outsource for the same reasons that some of us hate dealing with a used car salesperson. IT Outsourcing has become synonymous with off-shoring to India. It's become more about finding ways to get work done on the cheap than finding innovative ways of solving business issues. The truth is, most of us want to save money but far fewer of us are willing to sacrifice quality, give up control, or compromise on our promise to deliver.

Any business should consider outsourcing some of their processes whether it be human resources, marketing, or manufacturing especially when one or more of the potential benefits is relevant. It is extremely important to weigh your options as it relates to sourcing. If you can't find someone you can trust with a function of your business then don't risk outsourcing the process regardless of the possible benefits. Deal with people that take pride in their integrity and are willing to put their name on the line when something goes wrong. It may be true that no one cares as much about your business as you, but a partner is willing to put some skin in the game and is eager to be tested. They see the benefits of a long-term business relationship that is mutually beneficial.

In my 10 years of working in the information technology services field, trust and integrity became my competitive advantage. When you build a customer relationship that is built on strong core values, people are eager to do business with you. I took pride in solving my customers’ issues. And when times got tough, my clients knew exactly where to find me and it wasn't hiding or making excuses.

contact: David Tominsky